Smart Lock Installation in Green Bay, WI

Will your door take a smart lock?

Most smart deadbolts are made for a standard bored door: a round hole through the face for the deadbolt and a smaller bore into the edge for the bolt. Some doors need a closer look.

• Original doors in older homes. Houses in the Astor Historic District span styles from the later 1800s into the early 1900s. A door that still uses a mortise lock needs a mortise-compatible model, or a retrofit unit that mounts over the existing deadbolt on the inside and leaves the outside hardware alone.
• Doors behind a storm door. An exterior keypad needs room between the two doors.
• Thick or thin doors. Check the door thickness against the lock's stated range before buying.

Renters and short-term rentals

If you rent, read the lease and ask the landlord before swapping a lock. The landlord may want a working key or code, and the original hardware may need to go back on when you move out.

Hosts are covered by the city's short-term rental permit rule (Section 44-1580(j)) when stays run under 28 consecutive days, and the rule calls for a named local representative. A keypad makes changing codes between guests simple. If the unit relies on one, give the representative access to the lock's settings and a physical key in case the electronics fail. This is general information, not legal advice.

Batteries and keypads in winter

Cold drains batteries, and an exterior keypad on an exposed door faces blowing snow and ice through a Wisconsin winter.

• Change batteries each fall rather than waiting for a low-battery warning.
• Choose a model with a mechanical key cylinder or a way to power it from outside.
• Keep a physical backup key with a relative or neighbor, not hidden by the door.
• If you have a choice of door, one under an overhang keeps a keypad out of the worst weather.

What to send

Include the door material and thickness, the current deadbolt brand, whether you own or rent, and whether you want a keypad, app control or both. More on smart lock installation, lock rekeying for the keyed cylinder, and the Green Bay page.